ERP is often misinterpreted as a system only suited for large, multinational corporations that have been established for hundreds of years and turn over tens of millions of pounds. It is often assumed that only larger companies will reap the benefits, but the truth is quite different. ERP solutions can be just as beneficial for smaller companies, if not more so. Some questions we often get asked are;

The journey taken by a product/service often provides a detailed insight into the reasons and purpose of the initial project. Although at face value MIETrak appears to be a modern piece of software that has only been around for the last 10 years or so, its story and history paint a completely different picture.

Quoting is commonly the first process required in order to receive a sales order. Companies go about quoting their products and services differently. There is no right or wrong way as long as you are making profit and the product is as it should be. Manufacturers quoting methods are often determined by a range of factors. One of the main and most common influences is your competition. Going head to head with other manufacturers in order to win a job often drives prices down, and so in order to win the job you may have to forfeit some of your profit margin. On the other hand, some manufacturers costing method is driven by the industry itself. They may have patent on a unique product that sits in a niche market of its own, meaning that they can determine its pricing structure.

MRP is at the forefront of many manufacturers operations and processes, but what does it actually mean and what are the benefits of using it? Firstly, there are in fact two different types of MRP, MRP 1 and MRP 2. MRP 1 stand’s for Material Resource Planning and MRP 2 stands for Manufacturing Resource Planning. The terms sound very similar but they do in fact relate to two different aspects all together.

Many small to mid-sized manufacturers believe that they can do without an ERP system. They believe that their operation is simple enough that they can control it with a few spreadsheets. Often, this is simply not the case.

As with most industries, the sheet metal industry has its own unique quoting methods and requirements which people with a non-sheet metal background would struggle to comprehend. Finding a quoting system to suit its exact needs is tricky…. That is unless you find one that is specifically developed for the industry itself.

Quoting is a very important part of any business as it is most commonly the first step in securing a sale. The way in which people quote will vary from business to business, and so being able to adapt a quoting system to suit your quoting processes is key. The ability to make quoting consistent, efficient and traceable will help you streamline your business along with giving you the ammunition to make informed business decisions. With so many systems to choose from, it is hard to distinguish the difference between them. We have put together the three main outcomes you should expect to see from using quoting software.

Quick lead time is one of the best unique selling points a manufacturing company can offer its customers. In the world we live in, projects and processes take days rather than weeks, and so the ability to forecast your manufacturing capacity has never been more important

The general rule of thumb when it comes to running a manufacturing business is to make profit. There are a few different approaches and theories when it comes to pricing up jobs. The most common approach is to use your costs and then apply a mark up in order to make money. This formula is very simple with only 2 general variables and is almost flawless once calculated properly. It all sounds so simple, but there is one common problem faced by many – how much is that job costing me to manufacture?

Today’s decision is to ensure that you have the correct Manufacturing ERP software solution, in fact it’s an absolute priority. Why? We all know that the manufacturing industry is one of the most competitive industries not only in the United Kingdom, also in Europe. Manufacturers must design, build, and deliver the highest quality products in the timeliest manner at the lowest possible costs in order to win and retain customers.